uced to
absolute starvation.

All ignorant of what was going on at the settlement, the avengers were
pushing their way through the woods in pursuit of the smaller body of
savages. Nothing could have been more satisfactory to these latter.
From every eminence and knoll unseen eyes watched the movements of the
white men, who remained under the delusion that they were striking
terror into the hearts of a flying foe.

"Sure, we'll have to take a rest soon," said Squill, as they halted on
the top of a mound, about sunset to breathe and wipe their heated brows.

"True, a short sleep we _must_ have, but we'll have to take our rest
without kindling a fire," said Grummidge.

"Ay, an' go supperless to bed, too," remarked Little Stubbs; "for we've
brought nothing to eat with us."

This fact had not struck any of the party till that moment. They had
been so eager in pursuit of the foe that all prudential considerations
had been thrown to the winds. They now lay down, therefore, to the very
brief rest that was absolutely needful, not only without supper, but
with the prospect of starting again without breakfast. However, each
man felt bound in honour not to damp his fellows by complaining.

"Now, boys," said Grummidge, "you lie down, an' I'll mount guard. Sleep
as fast as you can, for I'll route ye out in an hour or so."

But Grummidge did not fulfil his promise. Seating himself with his back
to a tree, his bows and arrows ready to hand, and actuated by a firm
resolve to watch with intense care, he fell fast asleep, and the whole
party snored in concert.

About fifty Indians, who had joined the original attacking party, had
waited patiently for this state of affairs. When quite certain that the
seamen were all sleeping soundly, they crept silently forward, and
pounced upon them. The struggle was sharp, but short. Courage and
strength are futile when opposed to overwhelming numbers. A few minutes
later, and the white men were led, with hands bound behind them, into
the depth of the unknown wilderness.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

A NEW FRIEND WITH STARTLING NEWS.

Turn we now to the island in the great lake where Hendrick, the hunter,
had set up his romantic home.

The premature touch of winter, which had put so sudden a stop to the
work of our explorers, gave way to a burst of warmth and sunshine almost
as sudden. It was that brief period of calm repose in which nature
indulges in some parts of the world as if t